Joe Baca may challenge Gary Miller in 2014

Former Rep. Joe Baca has promised that he will try to make his way back to Congress next year, but the question is whether he will seek a rematch with fellow Democrat Gloria Negrete-McLeod or challenge Republican Gary Miller.

In a telephone interview, Baca declined to confirm his plans for 2014. But there are signs he might be headed for challenging Miller.

"When I'm ready to tell you, I'll tell you," Baca said. "Let's just say that I'll get back to you next week on that story. "

In January, Baca said he planned to run against Negrete-McLeod in the 35th District, who defeated him in the November election under new rules that allow members of the same party to run against each other in general elections.

The 35th District spans from Pomona on the west to Fontana on the east.

On Tuesday, however, Grand Terrace Councilwoman Sylvia Robles, who uses the Twitter handle @GTMujer, reported that Baca has changed his plans and will instead challenge Miller.

"Not a rumor, I just spoke to #JoeBaca and gave him my endorsement. My hope is #McCloudNegrete on same team," Robles tweeted.

Robles said in an interview Tuesday she had a cellphone conversation with Baca in which he told her of the plans to challenge Miller.

"It was hard to have an extended conversation, but the conversation was Joe Baca basically stating he was going to run for the 31st District," Robles said.

"He was stating he was in the race and he was going to beat out any other Democrat," she said.

Robles also said Baca asked for, and received, her endorsement for the 2014 campaign.

Baca could not be reached for any additional comment to respond to Robles' remarks.

The 31st Congressional District stretches from Rancho Cucamonga to Redlands and includes communities in San Bernardino and Colton.

The Democratic Party holds a voter registration advantage in the district, which was redrawn before the 2012 election making it more Democrat-friendly, according to a non-partisan group.

In 2012, the Democrat vote was split four ways. Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar finished third overall, leading the Democrats in votes. Aguilar has announced he will run again in 2014. Democrat Justin Kim finished fourth in overall voting and said he will not run in the upcoming election.

Miller and fellow Republican Bob Dutton advanced to the general election in 2012 under California's then new top-two primary system, where the top-two vote-getters in the primary are placed on the general election ballot, regardless of party affiliations.

The Aguilar campaign declined comment on this story.

Miller's district director Chris Marsh said it seems early for Aguilar and Baca to be announcing their plans.

"We're 14 months out before the primary, so we'll see what happens," Marsh said. "I can tell you Congressman Miller is ready for any challenge. "

The field could get even more crowded.

The National Journal reported that attorney Eloise Reyes, who has a practice in Colton, may enter the race as another Democratic candidate.

Reyes said Tuesday that friends and colleagues have asked her to run, but is still considering the possibility of her entering the race.

"I'm finalizing my decision," she said.

At present, Baca's election filings state his intentions to run in the 35th Congressional District, which includes the Pomona, Chino Valley, Ontario and Fontana areas. Voter registration in the district leans heavily toward the Democratic Party.

Baca was first elected to Congress in a 1999 special election to succeed longtime Rep. George Brown, D-San Bernardino, who died in office.

McLeod served in the state Senate before joining the House of Representatives this year.

Baca has blamed his defeat on the multi-million dollar independent expenditure campaign Independence USA, a Super PAC controlled by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, conducted in support of McLeod late in the last election cycle.